This episode is loosely based upon the slasher-themed Horror Head play-set "Mighty Max Tangles with Lockjaw", and I think they did an excellent job with whatever small idea they managed to glean from the toy in creating this really well thought out episode that in it's own way, is probably the darkest and most intense of the series, as well as one of the most meaningful. You can tell they worked hard to try and give the story a strong moral message. I really love this one because it's subtly grim tone and effective atmosphere make it stand out amongst the other episodes. It's really all about murderous rage and wanton violence. I think the concept of Lockyar(not "Lockjaw" as Max immediately christens him!) the evil and insane demon of rage is great. The idea that this beast is the embodiment of savagery, rage and hate as an elemental force of nature, and that like those baser instincts it can't ever be permanently destroyed, but only subdued and contained, lest it become a burning blaze and grow completely out of control, is an idea that I find to be quite deep, scary, and kind of awesome. There's more to this villain than just a typical, roaring dumb brute. And at the end, when Max figures out the only possible way of conquering this mountain may be by giving him what he wants, and he throws him the key that unlocks the indestructible metal face-mask that binds his terrible powers, and he ends up burying himself under tons of rubble when he causes a landslide with his scream of unleashed fury! He sure was an especially wicked monster, the image of him holding up the chainsaw to slaughter the two lumberjacks that unwittingly free him in the prologue is nightmarish and adds a chilling complexity to the brutality of the character. The most gruesome thing you never see in the series happens in the memorable part of the story where they all come across a foreboding cabin in the woods and Norman goes inside and sees something that shocks and disturbs even him, and he backs out and shuts the door, and when Max complains about not being aloud to see what's inside, Virgil firmly tells him that real violence is nothing like what he's seen on TV and movies, and they get the point the point across really well without it coming across as preachy, and it's an excellent example of implied violence being more effective and disturbing when it's not seen at all and left to the imagination. And any kid with half a brain would have pictured a cabin full of slaughtered bodies much worse than any horror movie. Norman's also really interesting in this one as he struggles to maintain control and not succumb to the malign influence of the demon as he becomes more irrational and determined to destroy the immortal creature. And he gets a little character development as he learns that not every challenge can be overcome with brute force alone. And it's always great to see a little more of Norman's ancient past in the flashback scenes that reveal the origin of Lokyar. I couldn't help but notice that the shaman that summons him looks remarkably similar to Ravendark from "Let Sleeping Dragons Lie"! In the end it's Max's surprising insight and intelligence that comes through as he's able to snap Norman out of a violent fury and use the villain's own strength against him. A bloody tremendous episode, go team Max!!! 😡
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